A Morning With The Stable Master

[Raryn IronHoof]

He didn't have time to send one of his boys to the blacksmith to get an order put in for shoes. He also didn't have time to sit around and wait on his boys to actually show up for work.

He tended to be at work... all the time. Like... all the time. So he was already there when a messenger arrived saying that an important person would be arriving to ride today. So he hurried to shoe all of them since the messenger wasn't privvy as to who it was coming... and he was a good eight shoes short.

So he was making them himself. He hadn't been a blacksmith apprentice for the last almost twenty years, but he could still make shoes when needed.

He'd actually had the red hot iron shows out and cooling when he felt that tingling sensation where you know you're not alone, added to the feeling that somebody greatly more important than one's self was in one's presence, run up his spine.

Turning, he noticed that his preparation was in vain, because the person directly in front of him was the person who owned the horse he hadn't yet shoed.

"Um... He-Hello. I-I'm sorry that I'm not ready at the moment... It's been a rought morning and everything..."

[Joscelin Trevalion]

Joscelin William Trevalion was swiftly becoming well known in Camelot for being the charming young and foreign noble who had come with aspirations of a treaty between their lands. That and secret aspirations to bed and claim the Princess Sophia Lyonesse as his own lady wife. That was another thing altogether though and something no one knew, although Joscelin surmised that Sophia's father suspected somewhat was amiss with his daughter. Nonetheless, that was for Joscelin to know and worry over and no one else to ever find out as he approached the stables with purpose, at least until the moment he heard the stablemaster.

"Is that so my lord stablemaster?" Joscelin asked and lifted his brow. Mayhap he was a bit informal with those below him but then again Joscelin wasn't exactly a fullblooded noble himself; after all, he was a whore's unwanted get and if not for his foster-mother's inability to have children he would have never been heir to the Trevalion estate. Once again though, that was another sack of issues for another time.

Aemon was on his heels then, his right-hand man and fifteen years his senior.

His guardian entrusted to Joscelin by his foster-mother.

"My lord Jo--" Aemon began but stopped as he looked over Joscelin's shoulder to the stablemaster. That and the fact that Joscelin lifted his hand to silence him. "You may wait outside, Aemon. It seems we will not be leaving at the moment but I do hope we may linger here while you finish your work, my lord," he said as he drew closer. "May I see your handiwork?"

[Raryn IronHoof]

[[By All Means!! That's What I'm Here For! ]]

"You want to.. To watch me? Well, milord, one certainly wouldn't deprive someone sic as yourself their privilege, but really, my work couldn't be interesting to you." Raryn said as He turned and quickly donned his gloves.

He walked back over to the fire, and deftly began grabbing the red-hot shoes and tossing them into a bucket of water, the sound of the steam emitting reminding all there of bacon frying, and removing them to hammer them into ankles satisfactory shape before returning them into the water once more in turn. It was a process he'd developed for the shoes. Told his hands that it made them last longer. Really, it did help a little, but the process was only good for making shoes and nails, fine artistry work required a proper technique.

"So, Sir, I hole oh don't find me too bold as to enquire why all the secrecy for this sudden ride you're taking." he asked casually as the shoes began to steam less and less. A few more minutes and they'd be completely ready for use.

Færmony, his own stallion, built of a breed from the north in a region called 'Clydes', knickered as he stuck his head over the stall door, wanting attention. Raryn walked over to pat the brute's head after taking another glance at the shoes.

"Gah, Færmony, keep your grumblings to yourself. No way the Nobleman's gonna want an ol' pair of monskers like ourselves to ride with him and his find specimen of horseflesh, so you keep your notions to yourself." Raryn felt a stab of sadness at the fact that he was usually too busy with the stables to take his own horse for a ride every now and again.

At any rate, he returned to his bucket full of shoes, and pulled out four. Grabbing his hammer, and his cleaning equipment, the StableMaster quickly set to cleaning out the hooves of Lord Joscelin's steed before fitting the shoes to it's hooves.

All in all it only took another hour before he was finished and the Nobleman could take his journey. Now all he had to do was figure out anyway to get some hands in so he could take a quick ride for his own horse's benefit. As awkward as it might be, Raryn, much like Færmony, wished Lord Joscelin might ask them to accompany him.

[Joscelin Trevalion]

"You would be quite surprised, my lord stablemaster, for my father had taught me that one must pay attention to those who are the lifeblood of a city," Joscelin said, smiling as he watched the older man. He reminded him of Aemon, but...no, not even then for the man was older and differet in his way. Joscelin quietly watched him as he moved back to the fire and had begun to work. All the while he kept a respectful distance and watched.

He had never watched the workings of a smithy before...well, once...when he had commissioned a blade for himself. Yet, that had only been for a brief moment and only to commission it and then pick it up when it had been complete, testings its heft and craftsmanship at he smithy. This was very different though as he watched the older man fashion horseshoes.

"Mm, I thought such gossip was left better for the hens?" Joscelin asked the older man and laughed. "Well, I could tell you the truth but then where's the fun in that? Then again..." Joscelin trailed off. The image of the Princess Sophia's face flitted to the forefront of his mind. "I am leaving to see someone, my lord stablemaster...she's the most beautiful woman I've ever known and like to cause my end. Yet, before that I intend on making a purchase of somewhat...special," he said and smiled. Yet, the moment the older man walked over to the beast, who made his presence known, and patted him...well, Joscelin could only smile at the sad sight of it as a whole.

He waited and thought, watching the man as he worked and without any complaint.

Then he asked something...

"My lord stablemaster, I think I'd like for you to join me on my jaunt today. If I must pay for your company then I will," he said suddenly, looking earnest. "Will you be so kind as to come along with me? I assure you I am not like most lordlings and I will not have you carrying my baggage. I simply wish you to tell me about your life here and more about Camelot and its makings before I must deal with womenly wiles," he said simply, grinning.

[Raryn IronHoof]

"I am leaving to see someone, my lord stablemaster...she's the most beautiful woman I've ever known and like to cause my end. Yet, before that I intend on making a purchase of somewhat...special," he said and smiled. Yet, the moment the older man walked over to the beast, who made his presence known, and patted him... well, Joscelin could only smile more at the sad sight of it as a whole.

"Hmm, love be a powerful magic if you don' mind me sayin' so, Sir." Raryn said as he leaned back, stretching the muscles along his spine. He then turned his neck so far to the left that one could hear his bones pop from outside the stables. "I'm no agin' it, mind, I'm just saying as I've never been struck by the spell afore. 'Course, when I say that I don' know if I'm bitchin' or braggin' as the saying goes." the blacksmith chuckled at his last bit.

"My lord stablemaster, I think I'd like for you to join me on my jaunt today. If I must pay for your company then I will," he said suddenly, looking earnest. "Will you be so kind as to come along with me? I assure you I am not like most lordlings and I will not have you carrying my baggage. I simply wish you to tell me about your life here and more about Camelot and its makings before I must deal with womenly wiles," he said simply, grinning.

The Stable Master nearly fell over at this request. Literally. He'd been trying to an against a post holding up part of the roof, and upon hearing the words, had missed his mark and stumbled to keep from kissing the ground.

"Ex-excuse me, Sir. Just a bit o'me equilibrium gone fer a vacation. Sir, I b'lieve that Me an' me ol' monsker over there's love t'go a-ridin' with you. If you'll just give me a moment to saddle 'im up."

By the time Raryn had gotten Færmony kitted up, the stable lads had come running in, and Raryn turned to the eldest lad.

"Yer in charge. See to it that everything's accomplished on schedule, because I don' know just when I'll be gettin' back. I'm going riding with Sir Joscelin, and you won't be able to get ahold of me." for a brief second, the Stable Master and the stable boy were as if best friends, for they shared a look teeming with confusion and followed by ample excitement.

[Joscelin Trevalion]

Was it wise? Mayhap not. Joscelin was taking a rather large risk there and then with trusting Raryn in such a way. Yet, how could one ever earn the respect of another if they could not throw caution to the win and trust another...? Yes, he hardly knew the older man but Joscelin had a good feeling about him. He felt that he could trust the older man to be discreet, listen and speak his mind when asked without a hitch.

"Take your time, my lord stablemaster," Joscelin said simply.

Joscelin waited for the older man patiently as he went over things within his mind. There were a number of reasons why Joscelin wanted Raryn to join him. There was the fact that Joscelin was simply being kind to a fellow who could use a semblance of affection from a genuine friendship. Then there was the fact that Joscelin could use more allies within the boundaries of Camelot. That he could use someone that hear the gossip between the common people. That he use more ears within these walls.

Every little bit added to his web of intrigue helped.

He simply had to earn the old man's respect and friendship first. That and he needed to assure him that he didn't intend on using Raryn for his own ends as well. That the older man could find some benefits to their friendship, genuine or not, if they ended up having one. Nonetheless, when the man returned he smiled wide.

"I'll return him to you soon enough!" Joscelin called to the stablelad as he lifted his chin to the man in acknowledgement. He smiled at Raryn. "Now, my lord stablemaster, will you care to tell me tale about yourself?" He asked and moved along as he took to Aquilon's flank and mounted swiftly. Aemon was awaiting them obediently, watching on.

It was a fine day to ride.